English prevented him from following the engineering profession with advantage, he determined to study law as a means of acquiring a mastery of the English tongue. After subsisting for some months in New York by giving lessons in French and German, he betook himself to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he entered the office of the late Mr. Parker L. Hall, an eminent lawyer of that town, and a gentleman of high social position. The facility displayed by the natives of Poland and Russia in acquiring a knowledge of foreign languages is well known, but the achievements of Mr. Gzowski at this time seem almost phenomenal. It must be borne in mind that while he was studying law in a tongue which was foreign to him, he was compelled to support himself by outside employment. He obtained his livelihood by teaching modern languages, drawing, and fencing, in two of the local academies. He worked early and late, and was at first obliged to study the commentaries of Blackstone and Kent through the medium of a dictionary. In nothing did he appear to greater advantage than in his invariable readiness to adapt his mind, without useless repining, to the circumstances in which he found himself. His indomitable industry, natural ability, and fine social qualities, combined with his misfortunes to make him a marked man in Pittsfield society. He gained many warm friends, but was always wise enough to remember that his success in life must mainly depend upon his own exertions. In the month of February, 1837, when he had been studying his profession about three years, he passed a successful examination, and was only prevented from being admitted to practice by his not having become a naturalized citizen of the United States. A knowledge of the legal profession, however, was with him merely a means to an end. He had no intention of permanently devoting himself to legal practice, and had always contemplated returning to his profession of an engineer. He had by this time acquired a competent knowledge of the English language, and had begun to look about him for some suitable field for his exertions. The development of the coal regions of Pennsylvania was attracting a good deal of attention at this time, and it occurred to him that he might not improbably find employment there. A visit to that State tended to confirm his views, and in November Term, 1837, having submitted the necessary proofs, and taken the oath of allegiance, he was duly admitted as a citizen of the United States, before the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He had brought with him from Pittsfield numerous letters of introduction to persons of high social position and influence, all bearing testimony to his unimpeachable character and wide attainments. The only obstacle to his admission to practice having been removed, he was enrolled as an advocate at the Bar of the Supreme Court, and for a short time acted as an advocate in Pennsylvania.